Greece implements digital process for bank account seizures

Starting September 1, 2026, Greece is transitioning the process of seizing bank accounts to a new digital platform managed by the Federation of Judicial Bailiffs of Greece. This shift aims to modernize the ‘seizure in the hands of a third party’ procedure, which previously relied heavily on physical documents, manual service, and court secretariat involvement.

Under the new system, judicial bailiffs will issue a Unique Declaration Code (MKD) via an electronic platform, registering the seizure report number and the competent Court of First Instance. Banks are then required to electronically declare whether a debtor holds deposits, submitting the relevant files in PDF format using approved electronic signatures. To ensure accuracy, the system will apply an electronic timestamp to certify the exact date and time of submission.

Banks must complete their declarations by 19:00 on the eighth or thirtieth day, depending on the specific case, calculated from the day following the service of the seizure report. The digital transition also includes provisions for faster lifting of seizures through the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) under certain conditions, alongside enhanced protections for non-seizable accounts.